Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-02

A DISCUSSION ON PLUMBING.
Meeting OF Master Plumber Who have
Not Paved the ExaminAtiOm.
SHARP CRITICISM OF TIE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
AND THEIR EXAMINING BOARD, But NO ACTION TAKEN.
About twenty master plumbers met In the west
gallery of Edels Garjen. on street, last night.
The men were called together by o notice which
appeared In TEE STAR, inviting all master plumb
ers who have not passed the examination made by
the District Commissioners TO meet and talk over
the condition OF thingA There being no IRE the-
sat with their overcoats buttoned close Mr.
Eugene c. Hannah was chairman and Mr. Frank
Hannah secretary.
TIE '.rURSKD-DowN" MEN MUST UNITE, Mr. HuR-
LEY SAYS
Mr.. John Hurley. one OF the committee Of three
who called the meeting. stated that the diflculty
over the plumbing regulations had reached such
q stage that those who had failed to pass the ex.
animation or would not submit 70 1t must unite TO
protect themselves from the attacks OF the Com
missioner and the Master Plumbers' Association
He said that the matter has gone far enough W hen
In defiance OF the writ OF mandamus issued by the
court, the Commi ssioners refuse TO issue a permit
TO Mr.. Dan Hannah; that the men who mad passed
S tne examination IAN Were wo king against those who
pear before the board. Mr.. Hurley then related
now he complained OF this 10 Commissioner Ludlow
he (Huriey) applied for permit he was sent from
one member OF the board 20 another nntiI fnaIly
ne came 10 a stop AZ Mr. Dana Z. Barber, the sec
retary OF the board, who after refusing 70 issue
the permit, asked Mr.. Hurley, ssWhy don't you 20
TO journey work." This sentence Mr. Hurley be-
ueyed was
TIE KEY TO TIE WHOLE SITUATION.
The Master Plumbers Association are ngnting the
men who refuse 10 be domineered by the Commits
sioners. He said they are dong all In their power
10 down these men, and call them drunkards and
other approDrlous names. he SAID that the whole
commenced. and started with the ten-hOur Dusi-
ness. When the speaker complained OF the regu-
L la,lons TO commissioner weoo THAT gentleman
they were prepared by the plumbers. Falling TO
receive reply TO his question, "WhO were the
plumpers?" Mr. Hurley dramatically said: "They
were the master piumbers," AS he proceeded
with his speech he waxed warmer and warmer.
ATTACKING THE EXAMINATION BOARD.
Finally, when he denounced the board for the
examination OF plumbers, and the Commissioners
as set OF incompetents who had formed a ring to
down the gentleman present, the ch.,irman. MIR.
E {. Hannah, jumped up from his Chair and ex-
Claimed: Il will say that Dana Z. Barber Is not
competent 10 examine me. Neither is Mr.. Hayden
or MT. Robinson, Is am in direct competition in
my business with the other members OF The board.
Will not let them question me. They are not
quaiiried or nt TO examine practical plumber.
VIII take on my coat and 80 to work In the streets
This speech worked up the meeting to a high
pitcn OF excitement and the speeches that fol-
ter.
Mr.. Corbin Hay said that the men who consti-
tuled the examining board have never served their
apprenticeship 10 the plumbers trade, and know
nothing about II except what they have learned
from
THE "BooK ON PLUMBING"
which they have adopted a text book. Mr. Hay
said that when he complained TO Mr.. Robinson,
the inspector OF plumbing and chairman OF the
board, that he could not pass the examination be-
CAUSE IL was not vi practical Character VI reiated
go down on Pennsylvania avenue 70
Bealls' and buy the Book on Plumbing"
When he had read the book he
found that IL contained nothing but biunders
sum plumbers a, boys tuat have only been In tue
business Two weeks would be ashamed to make
Mr.. Hay then declared with CONSIDERABLE EN-
pndsis that the present plumbing system Is pol
sunlnS the people and 'we cannot nep it, AT
tnl, tIIne tney have, with few minor modtcaIions
Under the present system sewers are laid WIN
manLraps, having perforated covers, 80 that the
Ioui gases rise IL The surface anu Can Ue seen early
any morni Using IN cIouds OF nth.
Mr.. james Lyons-"rnere Is no. a man." he said,
ION mat commission VINO /, nj 10 PROFOUND Ques-
ton n hygiene or physics, or in1erpreJ the an-
In reply 70 an inquiry by the Chairman as to his
opiLion of the exainiuing board and the regu.s.-
opinion goes he dont think The members Ut tue
I0iEd are competent to examine. DE said "soiue
oi,tsie questions they asked NE were ridiculous
That uon't like 10 repeat mem" He then reclIed
Instances which were greeted with laughter.
In reply TO question ny the President Mr.
Barker said That when lie " as examined no cues
lions weie asaed having any referenCe " the iegu-
latlonS or as 10 how WOrx should Dc done unIer
tneuI." II tney Ia could nave Answered tnem,"
said ne. In uis Oplnion the meinDers Oh the Do.ru
acted as II they were IN search u iuiUrlnallOn
themselves.
hSssrs. T. c. German, E. 7. INLAND and Others
related lneir tx erleLce, DefOre The board. They
were C1 the saline character those oI Mr.. Barker
Iae cliIr.nIh and Dir. Hay SPOKE OF the exor-
oitant Charges lndue Tor opening the street, con-
hecting Win sewers, Gc aud said mat the harses
vaiieu according 10 ,ne people nnaAing application
Tor permit Ans cltlIInLn S1l1 that Lue ColuuS-
slon-ls were about TO force upon the puoiic
wateI-DoX and slop-cOck at Il cost o. s. eacu when
ne could buy the same Tor $40
DISCUSSING CAPT. syMONs REPORT
The secretary, MIR. Frduk nannan, then under
took TO discuss Capt. SymonS' report (printed in
Saturdays STAR to the Commissioners upon the
letter from District Attorney Riddle ASKING Tor
lat.Ons
ONION RECOMMENDED.
nMr Hannah Recommended that the plumbers
unzte 10 defeat any bill the Commissioners may
present TO Congress on this subject But they
appointment or additional inspectors TO see that
the work Is properly done. ne SAID That the
piulnOtiS DO not OBJECT 10 the reyula-
tlons. Their enect Is 10 throw more work
Into the Trade. tie said that he objected
10 tine examination because II Is and
ASKED how many OF the plumbers present would
JOIN an Organization 10 ngnt this matter TO the
last extremity and falling 10 receive satisfactory
response t.e meeting was adjourned 10 meet al a
cali irOn the cUlnmlttee ol three, composed OF
Aessrs- r. Haunan, I.uriey, and barker